Diver s mask



B. F. RUNYAN.

DIVERS MASK,

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1. 191a.

Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

BENJAMIN BUNYAN, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

pivnas MASK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

Application filed September 11, 1918. Serial No. 253,586.

To a1] whom it may concern: I v

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. RUN- 'YAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Divers Masks, of which the following is a, specification, reference being had to the-accompanying drawm l his invention relates to diving apparatus, and particularly to helmets or like devices.

The general object of the invention is to provide a diving helmet or hood in the form of a mask adapted to be disposed against the face of the wearer and have water-tight contact therewith, the mask being held in position by suitable means and having an inlet for compressed air and an outlet for foul air, thus doing away with the necessity of using the ordinary divers helmet which entirely incloses the head and has to be attached to a suit, and further permitting the diver to turn his head readily in every direction, without inconvenience. A further object is to provide a mask of this character which is very simple in construction, which may be readily applied or removed, and which is extremely light.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the mask applied; and

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the mask. I

Referring to these drawings, it will be seen that this mask comprises a copper plate 10, which is bent so as to more or less conform to the contour of the face and which is provided inits upper portion with a pane of glass 11. The copper maskextends inward at its sides and at its top and bottom,

so as to accommodate the nose of the wearer and the inner edge of the copper plate 1s flanged as at 12. A rubber gasket 13 is attached to this flange by means of screws or bolts 14 passing through the asket in the flange and through the outer ring 15. This rubber gasket extends inward beyond the flange 12 and the ring 14 so as to bear against the face of the wearer and have a water-ti ht contact therewith.

In or er to holdthe mask in place upon the head, ear tabs 16 are bolted or otherwise attached to the sides of the copper plate and 'are adapted to extend over the ears. These tabs or plates 16 are preferably made of rubber and prevent the access of water to the ears. Strap sections 17 are attached to the ear tabs, these strap sectlons being provided with. a buckle whereby they may be connected. A head band 18 is attached to the tabs 16 and extends over the top of the head. y

The upper end of the mask is provided with a tapered nipple 19 to which an air hose 20 is connected, this air hose being connected to any suitable pump. A baffle plate 21 extends beneath theoutlet of the nipple 19, this'baffie late being perforated. This perforated be e plate acts to break up the air blast and prevent'it from striking on the face. A pipe 22 is mounted within the mask and is open at its lower end to receive foul or exhaust air and extends out through the top of the mask to discharge the air.

This mask is designed for diving and for use in mines or in other situations where a person may come in contact with foul or poisonous air or gases. Inasmuch as it'is made of copper, it may be easily caused to conform'to the contour of the face by tightening up on the straps 17. It is very light and inasmuch as it does not entirely inclose the head and is not bolted to a suit as the ordinary diving helmet is, it permits the.

user to turn his head in any direction he may desire and to operate with the least possible obvious that many minor changes might be I thin, flexible metal, the mask having an in:

wardly extending wall around its perimeter, a gasket attached to said wall and extending inward and adapted to bear against the face of the wearer, and means engaging over the head for holding the mask pressed against the face of the wearer, and means for supplying air to the space inclosed within the mask and removing the foul air therefrom.

2. A divers mask made of thin metal' ear tabs, a band attached to the ear tabs and adapted-to extend over the head, and means for supplying fresh air to themask and discharging foul air therefrom.

3. A divers mask made of thin,-flexible metal and provided with a pane of glass and having an inwardly extending flange extending around its perimeter, a asket attached tothe edge of the mask an adapted to bear against the face, ear tabs attached to the mask, straps attached tothe ear tabs, a band'attached to the ear tabs and'adapted ,to extend over the head, anair supgly pipe entering the top of the mask, a ba e plate disposed below the supply pipe and having erforations, an exhaust air pipe disposed withmama? in the mask having an inlet opening disposed at the bottom of the mask, and an outlet exterior to the mask. t

4. A divers mask formed of thin, flexible sheet metal approximately concavo convex in form, the edge of the mask being formed with an inwardly extending flange and the front of the mask having a glass pane, a gasket disposed on said flange and extending inwardly therefrom, fastenlng devices holding the gasket in place, ear tabs of flexible material attached to the, side walls of the mask and having straps adapted to engage behind the head,-a band adapted to enga e over the head, a nipple extending from t e top of the mask and to which an air pipe may be attached, a perforated baflie plate disposed below the nipple, and an air pipe dis posed within the mask having its lower end opening into the mask and its upper end discharging through the mask.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. BENJAMIN, F. RUNYAN.

Witnesses: Q

THos. V. RYBICKI,

D. B. Museimvn. 

